The Italian Mission
Submitted by 	Larie Tedesco
The Daily Picayune - New Orleans Sunday September 25, 1892

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The Italian Mission

Blessing of the New Convent and Asylum

The Excellent Work Inaugurated by the Good Sisters.

Classes for Poor and Needy Adults to Be Held

Taught the Laws of God and Their Adopted Country

    Yesterday was quite an eventful day in the Italian colony in this city,
and marked a step forward in the progressive and benevolent movement
inaugurated in its behalf by Archbishop Janssens and Rev. Father Gambera.
The occasion was the solemn blessing and consecration to the cause of
education and charity of the new school and asylum, which the Salesian
Missionary Nuns of the Sacred Heart have purchased.

    The buildings are located at No. 81 St. Philip Street and were filled to
overflowing yesterday morning, circular letters and invitations having been
sent to almost every Italian resident in New Orleans.

    The ceremonies were of a most solemn and impressive character, and took
place in the hush of the early morning, beginning in the cool and fragrant
chapel and ending in the pretty, old-fashioned garden.   Archbishop Janssens
conducted the services, assisted by Rev. Fathers Gambera, of the new Italian
church; Farrelly, of St. John the Baptist, and Simoni, of the Annunciation.
Every portion of the large building and grounds were blessed, the boys and
girls of the school, numbering about eighty-five, leading the way two by two;
their fresh young voices rose ever and ? chanting the Litany and the Madonna,
or singing some sweet Italian hymn.   A solemn high mass was offered in the
convent chapel.   Rev. Father Gambera was the celebrant, assisted by Rev.
Father Farrelly as deacon and Rev. Father Simoni as sub-deacon.

    Archbishop Janssens delivered and interesting discourse, commenting at
length upon the importance of the work inaugurated by these good nuns and its
significance to the Italian colonists, particulary the immigrants, who were so
much in need of education, broadening   their ideas and breaking away from old
customs and traditions.   He insisted that the parents should send their
children to the school, it had been etablished for his purpose, and education
would be given free to all who were not able to pay.   All the sisters wanted
was for the childrn to come and receive the benefit of the instructions they
were anxious to give them.

    He spoke in glowing terms of the excellent work done by Father Gambera
since his coming to New Orleans, and hoped he would continue as vigilant and
zealous.

    The exercises came to a close with a magnificent rendition of the "Te Deum
Landamus."

    The school and convent of the Salesian Missionary Nuns opened on September
15, the attendance now averages 85 boys and girls.   It has been constantly on
the increase, and a hundred pupils are expected by the end of the month.

    Nearly tgree-fourths of these pupils are given tuition gratis, for they
are the children of the poor, and are unable to pay.   The sisters, however,
are glad tha the parents have been induced to respond to their call and send
their children to receive instructions.   The nuns opened the Italian
orphanage on yesterday.   Three litle orphan children were admitted.

    But the work of these good nuns does not end with the children:   they
have reached out a helping han to their poor and ignorant parents, and the
gantleness and persuasive mildness of the religeuse have burne fruit.   The
older people are manifesting a willingness to be taught and led to a knowledge
of the right.   Twice a week classes are held in the evening at the convent.  
Men, women and children are invited to attend.   The sisters have divided the
classes into sections, the old women and married women being grouped together,
then the unmarried women from 16 upwards; girls from 10 to 15 years of age
form another grouping, as also the boys from 10 to 15.   Regular classes are
held, and the lessions wind up with explicit instructions to all of the duties
they owe to God, their neighbors and themselves.   Lastly, they are taught the
laws of this country, the right of trial by jury, and their duties as American
citizens.

    The little children from 5 to 10 form a separate class, and at these
evening exercises receive instructions in their catachisims.

    The evening winds up with an oratorio, which is held on the convent
grounds.   Songs are sung, selections are read, and some of the children
recite pretty speeches.   On Sunday evening the classes close with benedition
of the blessed sacrament.

    Thus something has been brought into the lives of thse people.   huddled
away in tenement houses and in market homes - a refining influence that will
one day be productive of rich results.   They have something to look forward
to from day to day, for the reunions at the convent, the singing and the
social chaacter of the gatheiungs seem to have caught their fancy, and each
lesson evening there are new accessions.   "It is hard work," said Mother
Dominica on yesterday, with her gentle smile, "but by perserving we hope to
succeed."